The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has just announced the new leadership for its Industry Advisory Board (IAB) under the prestigious Digital Standards Initiative (DSI), the global platform for digital trade standards alignment, adoption, and engagement.
Stephan Wolf of the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) will step into the role of Chair of the IAB replacing Gerard Hartsink, the inaugural Chair of the IAB.
Wolf, who previously served as Vice-Chair since 2023, is well-known for his dedication and insight into the intricacies of digital trade and it is expected that under his leadership, the DSI will further enhance its strategic direction and bolster global digital trade frameworks.
Joining Wolf in leadership, and bringing fresh perspectives to the Vice-Chair position, is Lynn Ng from ING Bank. Ng, who leads Sustainable Value Chains at ING and is the current Chair of the ICC Banking Commission, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, especially in digitalizing trade, finance, and payments.
Robert Beideman of GS1 continues as Vice-Chair, ensuring continuity and dedication to the initiative’s goals, particularly in guiding the crucial Key Trade Documents and Data Elements (KTDDE) process.
ICC DSI’s IAB – a legacy of progress and the future of innovation in global trade
Since its inception in August 2021, the IAB has been a crucible for innovation, gathering industry leaders, standard development organizations (SDOs), and technical expert.
The IBA has been tackling challenges in trade digitalization, focusing on standards, interoperability, and digital trust, especially with the initiation of Key Trade Documents and Data Elements (KTDDE), a groundbreaking framework designed to streamline the digitalization of the end-to-end supply chain.
This initiative has already seen significant milestones, with initial parts of the work published in March and November of 2023. As we anticipate the final comprehensive publication in the coming weeks, the DSI stands on the verge of revolutionizing global trade practices.
Unified vision for digitalization of global trade
Commenting on the appointment, Stephan Wolf emphasizes collaboration and commitment to driving the adoption of global standards. “Together, we will build on the DSI’s accomplishments and scale the adoption of global standards and trusted technology principles to digitalise trade faster and more broadly,” said Wolf.
Accepting the appointment, Lynn Ng reflected on the legacy of Gerard Hartsink and expressed enthusiasm for advancing the work on digitalizing trade to build a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Robert Beideman reiterated the significance of the KTDDE work in creating a unified approach to solving digitalization challenges across global supply chains.
Join the movement toward digital trade
The journey of the ICC Digital Standards Initiative is a testament to the collaborative effort of industry leaders and experts worldwide. As the new leadership steers the DSI towards broader adoption of digital trade standards, the future looks promising for businesses and economies globally.
To become part of this transformative journey and for more information about the ICC DSI, including access to tools and reports, visit ICC DSI.
Shipping and Freight Resource and its Founder Hariesh Manaadiar are proud to be a part of the ICC DSI KTDDE network.
